DE2801381A1 - ARRANGEMENT FOR SUPPORTING A WASHING DRUM - Google Patents

Description

Engelhardt & Förster, Pfalzburger Strasse 71, 2800 Bremen

Arrangement for supporting a washing drum, in particular according to the patent .. .. ... (Aktz .:

P 24 58 338.8-26)

The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a substantially horizontal washing drum of a drum washing machine by means of several distributed over its length arranged support buffer, in particular according to patent ... ... ... (file number: P 24 58 338.8-26).

When supporting a washing drum on the fixed environment or a support structure firmly connected to the environment

518

Bremen office:

P.O. Box 10 71 27, Feldstrasse 24 D-2800 Bremen 1
• Telephone: (0421) * 74044
Telex: 244958 bopatd
Telegr.: Diagram, Bremen

909829/0224

Bremen accounts: Bremer Bank, Bremen (BLZ 29080010) 1001449

PSchA Hamburg

(BLZ 20010020) 126083-202 Munich office:
Schlotthauer Straße 3 D-8000 Munich 90 Telephone: (089) 652321

Telegr.: Telepatent, Munich

BOEFMEFT & BOEHMERT

the support forces of the individual support buffers due to the mass distribution of the washing drum, manufacturing inaccuracies, different loading conditions, etc. both in resting state as well as due to movement influences during operation can be of different sizes, namely usually even if the washing drum is largely uniform or at least periodically uniform Has mass distribution, and if the support points largely taking into account the existing mass distribution are arranged evenly distributed over the washing drum. Such different and possibly different during operation However, even regularly or irregularly changing support forces are extremely undesirable.

For example, if the washing drum, which can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, is on to avoid impermissible deflections several support and optionally drive elements such as chains or the like. hung one at a time above the washing drum arranged deflection pulley and can be guided around the drum shell, so it comes because of the different Chain loads often lead to operational disruptions.

This is due to the fact that the washing drums welded together from relatively thin sheet metal - especially if they have a greater length of, for example, 12 m or more and a diameter that is not too large - relatively flexible are. In addition, they have certain out-of-roundness resulting from the manufacturing process. In addition, the individual Wash drum segments receive a certain radial offset during assembly, i.e. eccentric to the wash drum axis be arranged etc.

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28Ü1381 (

All of this leads to the chains or the like serving as supporting or carrying elements. despite the uniform Distribution over the length of the washing drum can be loaded very differently, with these loading states change continuously during operation.

Under unfavorable circumstances it can happen that out of 15 or 20 chains, for example, at least temporarily wear only a few chains, while the remaining chains are completely or at least largely relieved. This but then obviously leads to considerable overstressing of the few load-bearing chains, which leads to chain breaks or cracks being able to lead.

If you wanted such damage and the resulting damage To avoid interference, one would have to use the chains or the like. oversize quite considerably. Such a dimensioning but would not only lead to very expensive and heavy chains or the like. lead, but also to support elements that may be could no longer be used at all because of their dimensions, since they are no longer around deflection pulleys, for example of reasonable dimensions, etc.

To avoid negative influences due to the above phenomena largely to be avoided or at least greatly weakened and caused by this as well as due to external circumstances to absorb or dampen sudden stresses that are moved by washing machines during the washing and conveying process Laundry can occur is with the patent

(Aktz .: P 24 58 338.8-26} proposed the deflection pulleys for the chains or the like. each at a substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drum to be supported, to hold essentially horizontal rocker, which can be pivoted about a horizontal at one end and at its other end

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is elastically supported by means of a support buffer, a firmly supported spring being preferred as a support buffer for each rocker is used.

With this known support arrangement, the inevitably existing non-uniforms due to the manufacturing inaccuracies Stresses on the chains or the like, i.e. reducing the impact of the impacts etc. but the chains cannot be stressed evenly.

In addition, it is disadvantageous in this known support arrangement that the individual springs are each set by hand and after inevitably occurring elongation of the holding means must be readjusted by hand during operation. Because this Not only is work extremely laborious, but it also shows that a manual work is even Adjustment of the chain tension of all chains has already been lost again due to the phenomena described above is when the drum has been rotated a fraction of a full revolution, since the roundnesses, the radial offset of the individual segments etc. can already have a completely different effect in such a position than in that one Position at which the setting was made.

The present invention is therefore intended to create a support arrangement by means of which the support of a washing drum by means of several support buffers distributed over the washing drum takes place in such a way that the same support forces can be achieved at all support points and thus at all support elements, so that, for example, with a hanging support of the horizontal washing drum by means of chains or the like. all Chains during operation despite the existing roundnesses etc.

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are evenly loaded, in addition, at the same time also an automatic re-tensioning after the elongation of the chains or the like. an operation as well as a level setting option of the component to be supported is to be created.

As a solution to this problem, the invention provides that the support buffers consist of piston-cylinder units, their Cylinders are to be acted upon with a flowable pressure medium, the cylinders each with at least are connected to another cylinder, but preferably to a group of additional cylinders.

As will be explained in detail below, a particularly suitable pressure medium is a gas, and indeed already in particular air for cost reasons.

If a washing drum to be supported is provided with such a support arrangement, and all of them are, for example Cylinders of the piston-cylinder units forming the support buffers are connected to one another, as in the embodiment of FIG present invention may be the case, it arises after the pressure medium has been applied to the cylinder by a Pressure medium source from and one after the washing drum has been raised as a result, as well as a subsequent one Switching off the piston-cylinder units from the pressure source in the cylinders due to their mutual connection the same pressure, which means that the support forces on each support buffer or its piston rod are the same become large, as will be further described in detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment.

If you want to raise the washing drum at the start of operation not only as a whole to the operating level, but at the same time or cause a level adjustment, then it is practical not to connect all of the cylinders to one another, but rather Groups consisting of several cylinders only,

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BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

and preferably groups of cylinders which are adjacent to one another. Each cylinder group can then expediently be connected to a separate pressure medium line.

The cylinders arranged on each half of the washing drum can each form a group, the mutual distance between adjacent piston-cylinder units preferably in each case approximately in is essentially the same size.

In an embodiment of the invention, the pressure medium lines of the individual cylinder groups can each be controlled via a The shut-off device is connected to a common pressure source or a pressure medium feed line leading to a pressure source be. With the controllable shut-off devices of the pressure medium lines can preferably be solenoid valves, the controllable shut-off devices of the pressure medium lines in each case be controlled in this way by a level sensor which measures the height of the component to be protected at the relevant point can that the shut-off devices open the pressure medium supply if and as long as the component to be supported is on the relevant Measuring point is below a predetermined minimum height. The level sensors are preferably each on one Arranged end portion of the washing drum.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in the subclaims.

The invention is further explained below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to a drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a

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with the support arrangement according to the invention supported washing drum a Drum washing machine in a schematic representation; and

2 shows an even more schematic representation of a support arrangement according to the invention.

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a schematic representation of a conveyor drum washing machine, the horizontally extending Washing drum 3 is arranged in a box-shaped housing 1 for the sake of simplicity.

To support the washing drum 3, a not shown in the drawing is on the top of the housing 1 Frame structure 37 is provided, on which eight rockers 62 are supported in the present embodiment, namely one end 63 of each rocker 62 is fastened to a bearing 74 firmly connected to the frame structure 37 in such a way that that the rockers 62 can each be pivoted up about a horizontal axis 65 from their essentially horizontal normal position are, while the other end 64 of the rockers 62 each by means of a support buffer 76 ″ on the frame structure 37 is supported.

Each rocker 62 carries a deflection disk 61, on which an endless Chain 13 'is deflected, the chains 13' each in the manner shown in Fig. 1 around the lower outer wall of the washing drum 3, so that the washing drum 3 is held by the eight chains 13 '.

The mutual distance k between adjacent chains 13 ' is the same size and corresponds to the length of a section of the washing drum 3, which is composed of eight sections.

BOERMERT & BOEHMERT

Such a distribution of the supports over the length
Such a component, as it is the washing drum 3, is necessary to avoid the otherwise occurring
to avoid significant deflections, which are already
due to its own weight and, last but not least, when it is loaded.

Each deflection pulley 61 and thus each chain 13 'is otherwise driven by a separate, not shown motor, so that the chains 13 'not only to support the washing drum 3, but also to drive them.

Since the washing drum 3 consists essentially of a relatively thin sheet metal and, accordingly, such a construction not only bends relatively strongly, but is also out of round due to the changes in shape, etc. that occur during welding, to which unavoidable radial displacements of the individual segments occur Chains 13 'in such a suspension - if one first of all of the special design
the support buffer 76 and its mode of operation disregards and this conceptually replaced once by fixed supports or springs unevenly loaded, and indeed it may well be that
only a few of the eighth chains 13 '(correspondingly heavily) are loaded, while the remaining chains 13' are completely or only
are insignificantly burdened. Such an uneven load on the chains can lead to broken chains, unless
that the chains are excessively overdimensioned in order to ensure that in the worst case only two or three chains carry the entire load, in which case, however, even an even load would not be ensured.

If one sets the ones represented in FIG. 1 by the support buffer 76 ' Support of the rockers 62, however, in such a way that a largely uniform chain load is present, so it can be observed that this

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uniform load is no longer present when the washing drum 3 is only a fraction of its entire circumference is rotated, because in such a position completely different geometrical errors under certain circumstances due to the existing out-of-roundness, the radial misalignment etc., may be present.

In addition, a setting made by hand during operation anyway due to the unavoidable Elongation of the chains 13 'changed.

All of this has the consequence that with such a support, as it is in itself for such a washing drum 3 from the is extremely useful for various reasons, to an uneven loading of the chains 13 'and thus can lead to chain breaks, which can result in corresponding malfunctions or failures.

These phenomena occurring with known support arrangements are avoided in the illustrated support arrangement, that the rockers 62 are supported by support buffers 76 ', which consist of piston-cylinder units.

In order to explain the support arrangement, in particular Reference is made to Fig. 2 of the drawing, in which, for the sake of simplicity, however, only six support buffers 76 ' are shown corresponding to a washing drum consisting of six segments. In principle, however, this changes nothing, and not even if a component such as a washing drum is present, which, in contrast to that indicated in FIG. 1, is present Training does not consist of eight, but for example twenty segments, like this one by no means Is rarity.

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As already mentioned, the support buffers 76 'consist of piston-cylinder units, whose cylinders 90 are each to be supplied with compressed air. The compressed air comes from a device shown in Fig.

2 pressure medium source, not shown, to which a pressure medium feed line 91 is connected, into which a shut-off device 92 and a pressure gauge 93 are installed. The air pressure is about eight to ten bar and can with a throttle of the shut-off device 92 can be set.

From the pressure medium supply line 91 the compressed air reaches a pressure medium line 95 via a solenoid valve 94 and a pressure medium line 95 'via a solenoid valve 94 ″. From the pressure medium lines 95 and 95', the compressed air continues to reach the cylinder 90 of a first group or the cylinder 90 'of a second group, the adjacent cylinders of the first group are thus well connected to each other as the cylinder 90' of the second group this case, the cylinder ^90. the as piston-cylinder units trained support buffer 76 'of the first group and therefore the left half of the washing drum

3, while the cylinders 90 'are assigned to the right half of the washing drum.

It should also be noted that the piston-cylinder units each is about the same units, so that not only the cylinders are formed the same, but accordingly also their pistons.

At the two ends of the washing drum 3 there is a lever 97 or 97 'attached at one end to the housing 1. on the washing drum 3. The levers 97, 97 'are each hinged to the housing 1 so as to be pivotable upwards and at their free end provided with a magnet 98 or 98 '.

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In the area of the free end of the lever 97 or 97 'is located a pair of magnetic switches, of which a first magnetic switch 99 or 99 'above and a second each Magnetic switch 100 or 100 'is arranged below the respective lever 97 or 97' when this is in Normal position.

The operation of the support arrangement according to the invention is as follows:

In the rest position, as it is, for example, overnight, the washing drum 3 is located opposite it Operating position lowered state and lies on sliding elements, each at the edge areas of each Section are provided with which a mutual seal not only during operation, but also when not in use of the individual washing zones can be achieved.

If the washing machine is to be put back into operation, the shut-off element 92 is opened and adjusted so that an air pressure of 8 to bar is set in the pressure medium feed line 91, which air pressure can be checked with the pressure gauge 90.

Since the washing drum 3 is in a lowered position that is too low for operation, as shown in the left part of FIG. is indicated, the magnetic switch 100 is therefore closed and provides an electrical connection to the associated magnetic valve 94 ago, which opens and compressed air from the pressure medium feed line 91 into the pressure medium line 95 and thus over allows the branch lines 96 to flow into the cylinders 90 of the first cylinder group.

When the system is restarted, the same will of course also take place with regard to the second cylinder group,

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2, however, a different state is already shown with respect to this cylinder group, namely a state which results when the right-hand end of the washing drum 3 is already at the predetermined operating level. In this state - which of course also occurs after a certain time with respect to the left cylinder group - the magnetic switch 10O ¹ opens so that the associated magnetic valve 94 'is cut off from the power supply and accordingly closes so that no more compressed air from the pressure medium supply line 91 can flow into the pressure medium line 95 '. After this shutdown or shut-off, the cylinder group formed from the piston-cylinder units 76 'of the right group together with the connecting lines 96', 95 represents a self-contained system which can only be influenced from the outside via the pistons 101 ' is.

After the washing drum 3 has been raised to the operating level at both ends, the total weight G of the washing drum 3 and its contents as well as some of the rockers 62 together with the deflecting disks 61 and attached to them bears on the pistons 101, 101 ″ The total weight G to be supported by the support buffers 76 * is made up of the individual weights G ₁ to G _fi acting on the individual support buffers 76 ', whereby the individual forces G ₁ to G _ß can differ relatively strongly from one another if the support buffers 76 'were not the support arrangement according to the invention, but, for example, rigid supports or the like the loading conditions or the like, but to a very large extent also v on the out-of-roundness of the washing drum 3 and other manufacturing inaccuracies due to radial misalignment of their elements

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BOEHMERT & BOFHMERT _1önnQ1

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Now different individual _{loads G 1} , G ₉ and G_ act on the left group of support buffers 76 C, on which the operation of the support arrangement according to the invention is to be explained in more detail, and one assumes that the weight G _{1 is} greater than the weight G_ or G-, this has the consequence that a higher pressure is established in the cylinder 90 which is most heavily loaded _{by the weight G 1 than in the two other cylinders 90 of the left support buffer group.} However, since the cylinders 90 are connected to one another via the lines 96 and 95, pressure equalization occurs between the cylinders 90. If the two cylinders 90 were acted upon singly by means of the weight _{forces G 2} and G _3, this would result in their pistons 101 moving upwards until they rest against the cylinder end wall, since the force acting on the pistons 101 is equal to the product of the piston area is multiplied by the pressure present in the cylinder 90, which is set due to the application of the weight G ₁ , which consequently results in a greater force than the counterforces G ₂ or G-.

Since this is not a singular application of force, but the support of a component extending over the entire racking arrangement, namely the washing drum 3, the _{pistons 101 acted upon by the weight forces G 3} and G_ cause the piston 101 to extend due to the pressure equalization that occurs by connection with the cylinder 90 acted upon _{by the weight G 1 , that they absorb greater weight G 3} ¹ or G '. Since, however, the total force G acting on all pistons 101, 101 'is constant, the pistons that are initially heavily loaded are automatically relieved and a force-wise state of equilibrium is established in such a way that all

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Pistons of a piston group and thus all chains 13 'are the same are heavily burdened.

A similar process takes place in the other piston group away.

You don't just want the support forces within a piston group to be the same, but also the support forces At all support points, the two pressure medium lines 95 and 95 ″ can optionally also be connected via a line 102, in which, however, a shut-off element 103 is expediently arranged to surround the washing drum 3 to be brought to a certain level in the manner described above when starting operation.

Because of this level equalization that is sought at the same time, line 102 will generally be dispensed with, since one otherwise no automatic level compensation would be achieved during operation.

The washing drum 3 sinks so far during operation due to practically unavoidable compressed air leakage losses that the magnetic switches 100 and 101 are closed again, as this shown in the left part of Fig. 2 is ^ so opens the relevant solenoid valve 94 oasr / vuic Si and l £ 5t again Compressed air from the compressed air source riEc ^ g'iirte'.r ^

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BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

280138t 48

Due to the automatic operation, no readjustment is required, so that any related maintenance work is not required.

It can be seen that the support arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable for supporting the drums of drum washing machines, the supporting in no way needs to be done hanging, as is the case in the illustrated embodiment.

In the concrete exemplary embodiment, there are also the additional ones for the support arrangement according to the invention Advantages that the chains are further spared after switching off the machine due to the occurring load, because the washing drum 3 lies on bandages after switching off, each between two adjacent segments of the Washing drum 3 are arranged. Since these bandages are pressed firmly against the outer drum when they are lowered in this way, This results in an excellent bath separation between adjacent washing zones even in the idle state.

At the same time it is ensured in the illustrated embodiment, that the washing drum can only start when the predetermined operating level has been reached.

Claims (1)

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT 2 U I! 1 3 8 E 824 January 13, 1978 EXPECTATIONS 1. Arrangement for supporting a substantially horizontal Washing drum of a drum washing machine by means of several support buffers, in particular arranged over the length thereof according to patent (file number: P 24 58 338.8-26), characterized in that the support buffers (76 ') consist of piston-cylinder units exist, the cylinders (90, 90 ') of which are to be pressurized with a flowable pressure medium, the cylinders (e.g. 90) each being connected to at least one other cylinder (90). 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure medium is a gas. 3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure medium is air. 4. Arrangement according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the cylinders (90 or 90 ') each with several other cylinders (90 or 90') are connected. 9829/0224 ORIGINAL INSPECTED BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT _z 28U1381 5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the cylinders (90 or 90 ') each with adjacent cylinders (90 or 90 ') are connected. 6. Arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the mutual distance (k) between adjacent piston-cylinder units (76 ¹ ) is approximately the same. 7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the length of the cylinder arranged on each half of the cable drum Wa (e.g. 90) are connected to each other. 8. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that each group of interconnected cylinders (90 or 90 ') is connected to a separate pressure medium line (95 or 95'). 9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the pressure medium lines (95 or 95 ') each via a controllable Shut-off element (94 or 94 ') connected to a common pressure source are. 10. The arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure medium lines (95 or 95 ') parallel to one of the Pressure source leading pressure medium feed line (91) are connected. 11. Arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the controllable shut-off elements (9 4, 94 ") as solenoid valves are trained. 12. The arrangement according to one or more of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the controllable shut-off devices (94 or 94 ') of the pressure medium lines (95 or 95') each 9 0 9 8 2> 9V 0 2 2 4 BOEHMERT & BOSHMER ~ of one the level of the washing drum to be supported (3) level sensors (97 to 100 or 97 'to 100') measuring the relevant point are controlled and each open are if and as long as the washing drum (3) is below a predetermined maximum height at the relevant measuring point is located. 13. The arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the level sensors (97 to 100 or 97 'to 100') each on an end portion of the washing drum (3) are arranged. 14. Arrangement according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that all cylinders (90, 90 ') are connected to one another. 15. Arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston-cylinder units (76 ¹ ) are mutually identical. 9829/0224